Friday, November 06, 2015

6th November,2015 Daily Global,Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rice News Headlines...
·         A mixed bag for nation’s rice sector
·         Rice Farmers Face Hard Times As Smugglers Gain Ground
·         FG, AATF Inaugurate First Confined Field Trial Facility for Genetically Improved Rice Production
·         Golden Rice promises to be a tool vs hidden hunger, claims IRRI expert
·         Is rice importation the only gov’t response to the shortage?
·         Calrose rice 'world's best' in international competition
·         Commerce: 5 million tonnes of rice sold
·         Thailand: Rice traders from Hong Kong observe jasmine rice production in Thailand
·         Milo Hamilton, Stuart Hoetger to provide first look at rice markets
·         G2G rice deal with Indonesia to ensure export target of 10m tonnes met
·         OLD RICE SILOS TRANSFORMED INTO CONTEMPORARY ART SPACE
·         The future of hybrid rice in U.S. and world rice production
·         11/06/2015 Farm Bureau Market Report
·         Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-November 06
·         CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures  
·         Mexico to Eliminate Rice Import Duties Under TPP 
·         In Arkansas and Mississippi, EQIP Aplenty 

News Detail...

A mixed bag for nation’s rice sector

Fri, 6 November 2015
Amru Rice CEO and president Song Saran sits down to talk the Post about Cambodia’s rice sector. Pha Lina
Cambodia’s rice sector has experienced some setbacks as a result of drought and neighbouring competition this year. As 2015 comes to an end, Cambodia’s rice sector is recovering from these obstacles and is experiencing some improvements. The Post’s Cheng Sokhorng sat down with Song Saran, CEO and president of Amru Rice (Cambodia), to discuss the current condition of the rice sector and its future.

In light of the delayed rainfall and drought experienced in many parts of the country, how do you see this season’s rice harvest shaping up?
Rice farming this year has suffered as a result of the late rain and climate-related issues. This affected mainly two types of paddy, both of which take at least five months to harvest. But as a result of the recent rainfall, I think this year’s rice crops will survive and we could see some gains made in the yield. Although we do not know how much we will harvest by the end of the year, we know that it cannot reach 1 million tonnes of exports.
Description: Amru Rice CEO and president Song Saran sits down to talk the Post about Cambodia’s rice sector.
What is our prospect of achieving this target in the future?
We will still not be able to export the target of 1 million tonnes in 2016 and 2017 if we cannot handle all problems that hinder our ability to compete with other countries. Cambodia has the capacity to produce 2 million tonnes of milled rice for exports, but there is only market demand for low quality and low price, therefore it is difficult to compete with Thailand and Vietnam.
Cambodia was knocked from its top spot as producer of the World’s Best Rice last month by a Californian variety at the annual World Rice Conference last month.

What were your impressions about the contest and results?
Cambodia was runner-up to the US, accompanying Vietnam in the final round. I do not view this as a negative result because a round-grain rice was ranked as number one in the world for 2015 and Cambodia cannot grow this kind of rice. Cambodia has the best quality jasmine rice, which is different from the California rose rice, so I feel as though this result had no impact on Cambodia’s rice market. In the contest we did not use Phka Romduol rice, which is our country’s top-ranked variety. Instead we used fragrant rice, which is number two or three in our country. So we are still proud that our lower-ranked fragrant rice made it to the
final round.

Cambodia recently renewed its 100,000-tonne rice contract to supply China. What does the deal mean for the sector, and were you disappointed that the quota was not expanded as requested?
China had an agreement to buy 1 to 2 million tonnes of rice from Thailand for $40 to $50 per tonne cheaper than Cambodia’s rice, so China gets more of its rice from Thailand than Cambodia. However, even though Thailand has a lot of rice in stock, it is lower quality than rice in our country.China buys our rice not only because of its quality, but because of its [close relationship] with Cambodia. However, I believe that if Cambodia lowered its price of rice a little bit, China will order more than 100,000 tonnes. Exports of 100,000 tonnes of rice will start on January 1.

By the way, our government also signed an MoU with Indonesia in 2012 to supply 100,000 tonnes of rice per year. However, we lost this market opportunity because the price of our rice was higher than other countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam. We will discuss opportunities and prices with Indonesia in 2016. I feel optimistic that with the cooperation of Indonesia and the Philippines we can reach our target of 1 million tonnes of rice exports in the future.

Some rice millers have claimed that access to finance is the biggest obstacle to realising the export target of 1 million tonnes per year. Would you agree?

I recognise that finance is a problem. Some rice millers rely on financial assistance from private banks, but the private banks will not lend them money because they view the rice millers as a risk. As a result, rice millers are only able to receive half of their requested loans after giving their land or other assets as collateral to the banks. For example, to obtain the $6 to $7 million needed to purchase paddy rice, the rice miller must have land or a house that costs at least $14 million.

Rice millers buy enough rice stock for two to three months of milling and then stop milling because they run out of money to buy rice stock. This challenge, as well as transportation fees, port fees and electricity, makes our paddy rice not able to compete with other countries that offer a lower price.Another problem we faced this year is that rice from Vietnam was often mixed with our rice, which put some of our millers out of work. The government should guarantee loans to any rice miller that has good credit, which offers the possibility to expand their business and increase rice exports.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mixed-bag-nations-rice-sector

Rice Farmers Face Hard Times As Smugglers Gain Ground
Kingsley Alu
— Nov 6, 2015 3:58 am | Leave a comment
Description: GoogleSmuggling of rice from across the Nigerian borders has reached prohibitive levels, with hundreds of trailers plying back and forth from neighbouring countries carrying illegal shipments of the staple food.Leadership investigation has revealed.The nation’s supply gap was estimated at around 3 million tonnes by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and half that number by the federal government earlier this year.Findings however, showed that legal importers paying full tariff of 70 per cent have not been able to compete with smugglers who enjoy a free ride into the market, aided by negligible tariffs in neighbouring Cameroon and Republic of Benin,and taking advantage of porous borders.
Another pertinent problem hamstringing rice investors is the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)’s ban of foreign exchange for rice imports, among other products, choking the importation supply chain.The resultant shortage in the market is now being exploited by smugglers, who prospered significantly in 2013 when they were able to move in around 2.5 million tonnes through the borders, without paying a single kobo as import duty.It will be recalled that in 2013, the federal government increased the importation tariff to 110 per cent as against zero duty regime administered in Benin and Cameroon.As Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) struggles to rope in the smugglers, the market is rapidly filling up with cheap quality rice also frustrating efforts of commercial agriculture by key investors in the rice value chain.
Large multinationals including Olam, Stallion Group and Dangote have announced large-scale investments in the value chain that are crucial in Nigeria’s quest to meet a growing annual demand of 6.5 million tonnes per annum. Stallion Group is expanding its capacities to produce 1.5 million tonnes in Nigeria, whilst Dangote has announced plans to farm 100,000 hectares for rice production.Stakeholders who spoke to Leadership said that effective curbing of rice smuggling was essential to get these projects to fruition and encourage millions of farmers to get back intensively to rice farming.The National Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (NRMAN), said this week that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), erred in its decision to lift the ban on importation of rice through the land borders. The chairman of the association, Mohammed Abubakar, said the NCS overreached its statutory mandate as an enforcement agency in taking such a policy decision.
leadership.ng/business/472432/rice-farmers-face-hard-times-as-smugglers-gain-ground


FG, AATF Inaugurate First Confined Field Trial Facility for Genetically Improved Rice Production

05 Nov 2015

 Ag. Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita

Dele Ogbodo in Abuja̢۬

The federal government and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) on Wednesday inaugurated Nigeria’s first Confined Field Trial (CFT) facility for the production of a genetically improved African rice variety known as Nitrogen-use efficient, Water-use efficient and salt-tolerant (NEWEST) aimed at addressing the country’s  food challenge.The Acting Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, who was represented by Mr. Abayomi Oguntunde, Director, Bio-Resources Technology, Federal Ministry of Science Technology, and the Executive Director, AATF, Mr. Dennis Kyetere, who spoke at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) in Badeggi, Niger State, averred that the project was aimed at increasing food productivity in the continent and Nigeria in particular.


Description: 221015F-Winifred-Oyo-Ita.jpg - 221015F-Winifred-Oyo-Ita.jpgTHISDAY however gathered from AATF Project Coordinator, Mr. Kayode Sanni, that the technology would be used from 2016 to accelerate the development of improved food produce.The HoS, admitted that that Nigeria’s food crisis called for the use of smart biotechnology tools to address the embarrassing situation.Oyo-Ita said: “This project which is a multiple-stakeholders partnership is being coordinated by AATF to develop genetically improved Africa rice varieties with enhanced agronomic traits or better yields under abiotic stress.”
She said NEWEST rice was a clear pointer on the way forward for agricultural development in the country.While thanking AATF, she promised that government would ensure its best use and that the purpose of its instalment would be attained through meeting the country’s rice needs.She said the current administration had  pledged significant investment in agricultural science to boost food and industrial production and also encourage the private sector to do the same.“Today, while it seems that much of the world has moved forward in food production, Nigeria has remained on one spot. Over the past three decades agricultural productivity has been stagnant or steady decline. This is mainly due to underinvestment particularly in modern agriculture science.“If we do not use this technology to make a significant and lasting impact in the rates of hunger, under-nutrition and poverty in the country, then we will have failed our nations and ourselves.”

The enactment of the Biosafety Act, according to her, would allow the safe application of modern agricultural biotechnology practice in the country.”While Nigeria’s former Agriculture Minister, who is now the President of AfDB, Dr.  Akinwunmi Adeshina Kyetere said the country spent over N365 billion annually on rice importationsAccording to him, AATF, a non-profit and an NGO facilitates and promotes public and private partnerships for access and delivery of appropriate technologies for sustainable use by small farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through innovative partnership and effective stewardship along the entire value chain adding that it is a one stop shop that provides expertise and know how that facilitates the identification, access development, delivery and utilization of agricultural technologies.

He said: “So far, Nigeria has benefitted from over $30 million through AATF investment in Cowpea improvement, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Cassava Mechanization and Agro Processing (CAMAP), Aflatoxin project and NEWEST Rice.“The NEWEST rice is a cutting edge technology that employs the tool of biotechnology to genetically improving African rice variety, NERICA. A climate smart technology of this kind which focuses on ameliorating the perennial constraints of nitrogen deficiency, drought and salinity in rice production.”In a remark, the DG, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, however admitted that modern biotechnology has been an issue of great concern to many people who do not really understand what it stands for. The inauguration of the CFT facility, she added brings more clarity on cautions that scientists put into practice to ensure that everything is done with care to the improved rice.

Also speaking the acting DG, NCRI, Mr. Samuel Agbore, said insufficient rice production affects the well-being of over 20 million small holder farmers,  who depend on rice as staple, adding that the low yield of Africa rice has resulted in importation of  over 40million metric tons percent of rice consumed.In his contribution, the DG, National Biosafety Management Agency, Mr. Rufus Ebegba, said the reality of Nigeria’s economic situation called for the need to give priority attention to agriculture as a means of diversifying the economy, adding that the global oil prices which is constantly on the fall has become a threat to the country’s survival.

He admitted that biotechnology remains the tool to diversify the economy. He said any technology cannot  deliver safe for Nigerians is not worth it, adding that the NEWEST rice is one of the outcome of biotechnology.He said the Biosafety Bill, recently promulgated into law, will be used to challenged the science community to come up with products that will be used to addressed climate change and dwindling economy.He said: “The management of the CFT must not be treated with levity, it must be taken verious seriously.
What we saw in the last two weeks here is the first confined field  trial in the country.”He warned that all terms and conditions of the CFT permit must be met. 
Tags: News, Nigeria, Featured
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-aatf-inaugurate-first-confined-field-trial-facility-for-genetically-improved-rice-production/224718/


Golden Rice promises to be a tool vs hidden hunger, claims IRRI expert

 
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
Description: http://www.interaksyon.com/assets/images/articles/interphoto_1428416113.jpgAn expert from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) says Golden Rice is a potential new food-based approach to help fight vitamin A deficiency (VAD), a form of hidden hunger.Dr. Violeta Villegas, Golden Rice Project Coordinator for IRRI, added that hidden hunger is a pervasive and persistent problem affecting more than two billion people globally.“As a breeder myself, it gives me pride and joy to be part of a humanitarian project that seeks to address a major public health problem,” Villegas noted.Aside from IRRI, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) area also involved in pushing for increased rice production and food security.

Searca is also supporting the research on Golden Rice and other rice varieties that are higher-fielding, nutritious and resistant to flooding and drought.An estimated 190 million children and 19 million pregnant women are affected by VAD globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO.)

If one is deficient in vitamin A, the immune system is affected, making them vulnerable to certain diseases like measles and weak eyesight, especially among pre-school children.“They can go blind. Some may die because they become more susceptible to certain diseases,” Villegas warned.Lactating mothers also need vitamin A because their milk is their babies’ primary source of nutrition, she added.“I always say yes, there are interventions like diversifying diet, breast-feeding, fortification and so on. They’re working, but the fact remains that there’s still a sizable portion of our population not reached by these interventions,” Villegas explained.

Villegas explained that there remain sectors of society that are not reached by the current interventions, those who live in far-flung barangays (villages), but they eat rice three times a day, sometimes more, so fortifying rice can indeed help.“It will be very good if there will be an additional tool in our kit, in our toolbox, to complement the existing interventions,” she said.Golden Rice is an example of how agriculture and nutrition can work together to fight VAD.Asked how soon Golden Rice will be allowed for cultivation, she replied: “Our answer is, when we get all the approvals, we will share them immediately.

I cannot say the year because we are following the regulatory system of the Philippines that prescribes all the steps that we have to take. Like you do a series of field tests, you do confined tests, you do multilocation trials to test adaptability of this new variety. You have to follow them.”Currently, Golden Rice is in the confined field trials stage. Multilocation trials will follow and later on, the application for propagation or cultivation will have to be filed.“While we are doing these trials, we are also generating biosafety data, required for food, feed and processing approval,” Villegas said.Another step, she added, is that upon getting food and feed approval, a reputable independent organization will do the bio-efficacy trial.They will not do this until Golden Rice gets the food approval, Villegas stressed.“We can predict when we can get all the data but getting the approval is the ultimate ‘diploma’ that we have to secure before we can go public,” she concluded.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/119808/golden-rice-promises-to-be-a-tool-vs-hidden-hunger-claims-irri-expert

Is rice importation the only gov’t response to the shortage?

THERE are still two months left in the year 2015, but the government has already decided to import a million metric tons of rice on top of 500,000 metric tons already programmed for the first quarter of 2016.The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the importation is aimed at ensuring that the prices of rice will not spike in the wake of the El Niño drought and the typhoon Lando floods that destroyed rice crops in the last few months.

Why is rice importation the immediate response of the government to an impending shortage? Why not a mobilization of the nation’s agricultural resources to produce some – if not all – of the rice needed to replace what we have just lost?As Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan asked, “Why is it beyond the capabilities of government to subsidize our farmers, so that the government buys from them and, at the same time, assure adequate rice supply and prevent a price spike?” “Food security is not a priority of this administration; importation is,” said another party-list congressman, Rep. Carlos I. Zarate.

Favored rice importers and cartels will again benefit from this new decision to import additional hundreds of thousands of tons of rice.If this policy persists, the Philippines will never be self-sufficient in rice. We have the land, we have new high-yielding varieties which are resistant to drought as well as to floods, we have farmers who only need to be mobilized with sufficient funding.We need to repair the many irrigation systems that have silted over the years and we need to building many new ones, along with dams to retain the rainwater that now flows unimpeded to flood the plains on the way to the sea.

But such a major undertaking may have to be put off in favor of more immediate emergency measures.In his past State-of-the-Nation Addresses, President Aquino said rice shortages will soon become a thing of the past. His administration is ending, not with the promised abundance but with a massive importation. Importation may be the quick solution, but along with it, the government should consider a parallel program that will make use of our own resources to produce at least a part of our needs. There is time to launch this in the next eight months before a new administration takes over.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2015/11/06/is-rice-importation-the-only-govt-response-to-the-shortage/

Calrose rice 'world's best' in international competition

Nov 5, 2015Todd Fitchette | Western Farm Press
California rice loaded in trailers and ready to be trucked to storage and further processing.
California’s Calrose rice was recently honored at the World Rice Conference in Malaysia with the “World’s Best Rice” award.According to the California Rice Exchange, a licensed broker and commission merchant company based in Durham, Calif, the significance of the award is seen in that it beat out a foreign competitor that was the reigning champion of the past three years.“This win is a result of over 100 years of variety development by the California Rice Experiment Station, coupled with top-notch farming practices and an excellent warehousing and milling system,” said Jeremy Zwinger, president and chief executive officer of The Rice Trader.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Calrose is a medium-grain white rice that originated in California. California is the second-largest rice growing state in the nation. The state’s 2,500 rice farmers produce about 2.5 million tons of rice annually.A panel of experts and international chefs judged the rice entries. One of the chefs, according to the CDFA, was Matthew Teruo Sato of Sacramento’s Ten22 restaurant. Sato recently won the “Lord of Rice” culinary competition.Typically more than 550,000 acres of rice is grown within 100 miles of Sacramento, Description: California rice harvestCalif., making it a significant contributor to local economies and state export dollars as much of the rice is exported to international markets.
http://westernfarmpress.com/rice/calrose-rice-worlds-best-international-competition

Commerce: 5 million tonnes of rice sold

6 Nov 2015 at 17:35

WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS Commerce: 5 million tonnes of rice sold


The Commerce Ministry has sold 5 million tonnes of rice from the previous administrations's pledging scheme, but the government is paying about a billion baht a month to store the 13.7 million tonnes remaining in the stockpile.Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn revealed the details in answer to  questions about the rice stockpile's management raised by members of the National Legislative Assembly on Friday.She said since the coup on May 22, 2014 the ministry had earned 52.3 billion baht from the sale of 5 million tonnes of rice.  There were still 13.7 million tonnes of unsold rice on hand.

The stockpile was accumulated under the rice pledging programme implemented by the Yingluck Shinawatra government.She said 100 teams were appointed to inspect the rice stock nationwide. This revealed a total amount of 18.7 million tonnes. The condition of 12 million tonnes was around standard, and about 6 million tonnes  below the standard, with around 400,000 tonnes recorded as delivered found to be missing.The ministry, which was responsible for the rice pledging scheme, had taken legal action against warehouse owners whose stocks were short of the recorded amount, or if the grain had deteriorated in quality.

There were another 300,000 million tonnes stored outside the contracted warehouses that must be kept as evidence for legal cases, the minister said. However, the Royal Thai Police Office on Oct 16 allowed the ministry to sell rice from the evidential stockpile.Ms Apiradi said the ministry must pay about a billion baht a month in warehouse rent, storage and maintenance fees, fumigation, interest payments and insurance premiums.

She said the ministry had released grain though auctions, but would halt the auctions during the harvest season in November and December to support the paddy price in the domestic market. The auctions were aimied not only at rice traders but also at industries such as animal feed and alternative energy. Asked about the use of Section 44 of the interim charter to protect officials working on the rice pledging  cases, Ms Apiradi said the purpose was to ensure the officials had confidence they would not face disciplinary or legal charges sometime in the future if they performed their tasks honestly.


link:http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/756728/commerce-5-million-tonnes-of-rice-sold.


Thailand: Rice traders from Hong Kong observe jasmine rice production in Thailand

11/6/2015 
Thai News Service
The Ministry of Commerce and Thai Rice ExportersAssociation have given representatives of Hong Kong riceimporters a tour of Thai jasmine rice production.Deputy Permanent Secretary of Commerce Somchart Soithong greeted the representatives from various organizations in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Rice Suppliers Association, Hong Kong ice Importers &Exporters Association and Hong Kong Rice Wholesalers Association, after their arrival to the Eastern Rice Mill Co., Ltd. in Kalasin province.Mr. Somchart said that Thailand has been trading rice with Hong Kong over the last 50 years. Hong Kong is also Thailand's second largest jasmine rice importer.

More than 5.7 billion baht's worth of jasmine rice wasimported to Hong Kong last year, and it has already totaled 4.2 billion baht during the first eight months of 2015, 16.5% increase compared to the same period last year.Mr. Somchart said the increase was due in part to the event organized each year to strengthen relationships between Thai and Hong Kong rice traders. The same event will be held in Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Roi Et and Maha Sarakham this year.
http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2476926076

Milo Hamilton, Stuart Hoetger to provide first look at rice markets

Nov 5, 2015Delta Farm Press
 “Deeper changes beyond sheer economics are influencing market decisions & responses,” The University of Arkansas' Bobby Coats notes. “The key to 2016 Southern long grain acreage expansion will be Asian rice prices. 2016 rice market considerations before making that planting decision will be reviewed in detail.”

Milo Hamilton
In the United States, rice is a crop that is planted on a relatively small number of acres by a relatively small number of farmers. In the rest of the world, particularly in Asia, it is much more than that.
Description: http://deltafarmpress.com/site-files/deltafarmpress.com/files/uploads/2015/11/111215-milo-hamilton-webinar.jpg “The Chinese say ‘More precious than pearls and jade are the five grains of which rice is the first grain,” says a video produced by Firstgrain, a rice marketing service which takes its name from the Chinese proverb.Milo Hamilton, president of Firstgrain, and Stuart Hoetger, economic consultant for the company, will be the presenters for a University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Food and Agribusiness Webinar at 2 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 12).“Global rice statistics suggest an inability of global rice production to keep pace with consumption,” says Bobby Coats, professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas. “The implications of tighter stocks on long and medium grain markets will be discussed.“Deeper changes beyond sheer economics are influencing market decisions & responses,” Dr. Coats notes. “The key to 2016 Southern long grain acreage expansion will be Asian rice prices. 2016 rice market considerations before making that planting decision will be reviewed in detail.”

To register for the Firstgrain webinar, which will be one of two discussing different facets of the rice industry on Nov. 12, click

For three decades Milo Hamilton has covered the world of rice for his customers. For 18 years he bought rice for Uncle Ben’s Inc., a Mars Incorporated company. For the last 14 years, his company, Firstgrain, has advised sophisticated rice firms and farmers on the market and its relationship to everything else.“It focuses on long-term and short-term changes and gives others an edge,” says Hamilton. “It seeks to level the playing field for rice farmers to help them prosper and to respect each other as professionals. The current clientele of Firstgrain includes CEOs of rice firms and farms across the globe.

”In recent years, Hamilton grew concerned about the global impact of change from the rural rice markets in Asia. As a world expert on rice, his concern led him to write his book “When Rice Shakes the World,” so readers might know what could happen and what should happen as the East and the West collide.He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Jan, and his little Pomeranian, Penney. He is surrounded by his children and their families.After graduating from the University of California-Davis, Stuart Hoetger worked in corporate finance before transitioning into the rice industry. Hoetger uses his finance and economic background to provide weekly market analysis to various rice market newsletters, most notably, Firstgrain’s Rice Market Strategist. Hoetger also gives market presentations at rice conferences throughout Asia and Latin America.

Hoetger’s fluency in Spanish has afforded speaking engagements in the Western Hemisphere that include Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, and Peru. In the Eastern Hemisphere, Hoetger contributed to the rice futures technical working group in Singapore on behalf of Firstgrain, and more recently has consulted on agricultural development projects in Northeast China and Thailand. Hoetger’s technical understanding of the global rice trade has proven valuable to decision makers in both the private and the public sector.In addition to market advisory, Stuart Hoetger and Logan Wilson, owners of The Stogan Group, manage the Calrose Coop, a grower-owned paddy marketing cooperative, and are owners in the new rice paddy trading platform, CashRice Network. Hoetger and Wilson seek to increase price discovery and market liquidity in order to generate higher returns for their members. 

To watch the Firstgrain video, go to https://vimeo.com/140280882.
For more information on the University of Arkansas Food and Agribusiness Webinars,


 

G2G rice deal with Indonesia to ensure export target of 10m tonnes met

Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation November 6, 2015 5:18 pm
Thailand has recently won a government-to-government contract for the sale of 500,000 tonnes of rice to Indonesia, ensuring that the Kingdom should be able to ship some 10 million tonnes globally this year.Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn Friday said the G2G rice deal should generate income of Bt8 billion, while helping to ensure that market prices during the current harvest season do not fall significantly, to the detriment of farmers.
"With rising drought concerns, Thailand should be able to export the targeted level of 10 million tonnes of rice this year, of which about 1.15 million tonnes will be from the government's stocks. For next year, we should again be able to ship at least 10 million tonnes, due to forecasts of strong demand in the market," she said.


OLD RICE SILOS TRANSFORMED INTO CONTEMPORARY ART SPACE
In today's Hometown Live, Elissa Rivas gets an inside look at a new exhibit space in repurposed rice silos
Thursday, November 05, 2015 05:10PM
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- In the Washington Avenue Arts District, people have turned something you'd likely see on a farm into a unique exhibit, 'Silos on Sawyer.'It's a celebration of contemporary art inside one of Houston's newest art exhibition spaces.For decades, 'The Silos on Sawyer' was a rice packaging plant. Now, more than two dozen re-purposed silos serve as site-specific exhibition space -- art created only to view here for a limited time. Much of the art is interactive.
Artist Aaron Courtland used more than a thousand tiny mirrors and a constantly moving projector to develop his vision of a silo as an abandoned space lab.Courtland said, "I would like to believe no one has ever installed a space station inside of an old rice silo like this before so the experience should be fresh and new for anybody that walks through the environment."Artist Trey Duvall's work, which includes two tons of porcelain clay and steel, is yet to be revealed. However, inside a silo with water dripping from the ceiling, Duvall explained, "As the water drips down the silo cone, it starts to oxidize and rust the steel to ultimately degrade this clean shape into something that then breaks down and seeps out and the silo then becomes the container."Take a closer look at the exhibit in the video above. The exhibit is free and opens tomorrow night.

The future of hybrid rice in U.S. and world rice production

Nov 5, 2015Delta Farm Press


 “This webinar will provide an overview of the current and future role of hybrid rice technology in global food production,” says the University of Arkansas' Dr. Bobby Coats. “We will review the impact that hybrid rice has had on the US market, the adoption of hybrid rice in the global market and a forecast of the evolution of hybrid rice over the next 20 years.”

Description: http://deltafarmpress.com/site-files/deltafarmpress.com/files/uploads/2015/11/mike-gumina-webinar-111215.jpgMichael Gumina
How can hybrid rice help meet the global demand for increased food production? That’s the topic of the next installment of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s Food and Agribusiness Webinar Series. Addressing the issue will be Michael A. Gumina, global CEO for RiceTec Ag. He will be welcomed by Bobby Coats, professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas and moderator of the webinar series.“This webinar will provide an overview of the current and future role of hybrid rice technology in global food production,” says Dr. Coats. “We will review the impact that hybrid rice has had on the US market, the adoption of hybrid rice in the global market and a forecast of the evolution of hybrid rice over the next 20 years.”
To register for the webinar, which will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday (Nov. 12),

This webinar’s presenter, Michael Gumina, has been engaged with production agriculture and the seed industry for over 35 years. He is currently the lead executive for RiceTec AG which is a privately held, leading global hybrid rice seed business.Prior to joining RiceTec, he was an executive with DuPont Pioneer where he was responsible for global seed production operations and a member of several key global and regional management teams.

He has been a member of the American Seed Trade Association board of directors, serving as board chairman in 2011-12, and the board of the International Seed Federation. He was appointed to a term on the USDA Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in 2013.He has also been a member of numerous non-profit boards and advisory panels including the Iowa State Seed Science Center, Iowa 4-H Foundation, ChildServe and most recently the First the Seed Foundation.Gumina is a graduate of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, with a degree in agronomy.

To learn more about the University of Arkansas Webinar Series, visithttp://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/economics-marketing/food-agribusiness-webinars/


11/06/2015 Farm Bureau Market Report
Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
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Long Grain New Crop
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Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
Nov '15
1217.5
1214.0
1218.5
-0.5
Jan '16
1249.0
1237.0
1244.0
-1.5
Mar '16
1275.0
1265.0
1270.5
-1.0
May '16
1295.5
-1.0
Jul '16
1319.0
-1.5
Sep '16
1270.0
1270.0
1270.0
-11.5
Nov '16
1270.0
-11.5
Description: DTN Description: CME Group Description: Click here for info on Exchange delays.

Rice Comment

Rice futures ended higher today, but January continues to fail at resistance at $12.50. Weekly export sales were up 27% from the prior four week average at 81,400 metric tons. Shipments of 45,500 metric tons was down 39%, however


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-November 06

Fri Nov 6, 2015 2:31pm IST
Gram prices today firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased buying support from local millers amid thin arrival from producing regions. Healthy rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and upward trend on NCDEX also helped to push up prices, according to sources.

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES     GRAM
   * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.

     TUAR
   * Tuar gavarani and tuar Karnataka recovered marginally in open market on good
     festival season demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions.
   * Moong mogar bold and medium varieties showed upward tendency in open market here on
     increased seasonal demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing belts.                                                                                         
   * In Akola, Tuar - 11,000-11,300, Tuar dal - 17,200-17,400, Udid -
     13,900-14,300, Udid Mogar (clean) - 17,300-18,000, Moong -
     10,000-10,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 11,600-11,800, Gram - 4,200-4,400,
     Gram Super best bold - 6,000-6,400 for 100 kg.
   * Wheat, other varieties of rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
     in weak trading activity.        
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close  
     Gram Auction                4,100-4,820         3,940-4,790
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                n.a.                7,800-9,200
     Moong Auction                n.a.                6,000-6,400
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Gram Super Best Bold            6,400-6,600        6,400-6,600
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            6,000-6,100        6,000-6,100
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            5,000-5,100        5,000-5,100
     Desi gram Raw                4,850-4,950         4,850-4,950
     Gram Filter new            5,400-5,600        5,400-5,600
     Gram Kabuli                5,800-7,100        5,800-7,100
     Gram Pink                        6,200-7,000        6,200-7,000
     Tuar Fataka Best             17,500-17,800        17,500-17,800
     Tuar Fataka Medium             17,000-17,300        17,000-17,300
     Tuar Dal Best Phod            16,500-16,800        16,500-16,800
     Tuar Dal Medium phod            15,500-15,900        15,500-15,900
     Tuar Gavarani New             11,750-12,300        11,700-12,300
     Tuar Karnataka             12,650-12,800        12,600-12,800
     Tuar Black                 18,000-18,300        18,000-18,300
     Masoor dal best            8,000-8,200        8,000-8,200
     Masoor dal medium            7,600-7,800        7,600-7,800
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold            11,600-12,100       11,500-12,000
     Moong Mogar Med            10,100-11,100        10,000-11,000
     Moong dal Chilka            9,500-9,600        9,500-9,600
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            9,000-10,000        9,000-10,000
     Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)    16,500-18,500       16,500-18,500    
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    14,500-15,500        14,500-15,500   
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        10,600-11,200        10,600-11,200    
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        6,000-6,500        6,000-6,500
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          5,200-5,300         5,200-5,300
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            3,200-3,400        3,200-3,400
     Watana White (100 INR/KG)              3,000-3,200           3,000-3,200
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,300-3,600        3,300-3,600  
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,600-1,700        1,600-1,700
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,650-1,750        1,650-1,750  
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         1,550-1,750        1,550-1,750
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400   
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   1,950-2,100        1,950-2,100
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,400-4,000        3,400-4,100   
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,600-2,800        2,600-2,900          
     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        2,800-3,200        2,800-3,200   
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800   
     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)         1,600-1,800        1,600-1,800
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,100-2,450        2,100-2,450  
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      1,800-2,200        1,800-2,200  
     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        3,400-3,800        3,400-3,800   
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,100-3,300        3,100-3,300   
     Rice HMT Shriram best(100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,500        4,200-4,500   
     Rice HMT Shriram med.(100 INR/KG)    3,600-4,100        3,600-4,100   
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    8,000-10,000        8,000-10,000    
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    7,000-7,500        7,000-7,500   
     Rice Chinnor best(100 INR/KG)    5,200-5,400        5,200-5,500   
     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    4,600-5,000        4,700-5,000   
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,200        1,900-2,200   
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,700-1,900        1,700-1,900

WEATHER (NAGPUR) 
Maximum temp. 32.9 degree Celsius (91.2 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
22.2 degree Celsius (70.2 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : n.a.
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 33 and 20 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)                                                                                                                  
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/11/06/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1313LC20151106
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   

CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 6 
Month
Price
Net Change

November 2015
$12.185
- $0.005
January 2016
$12.440
- $0.015
March 2016
$12.705
- $0.010
May 2016
$12.955
- $0.010
July 2016
$13.190
- $0.015
September 2016
$12.700
- $0.115
November 2016
$12.700
- $0.115


Mexico to Eliminate Rice Import Duties Under TPP 
TPP Under a Microscope
ARLINGTON, VA - Yesterday's release of the Trans Pacific Partnership text confirms what many have speculated - Mexico has agreed to eliminate all tariffs on rice imports from other TPP partners.  The United States already enjoys duty-free access for rice into Mexico because of the North America Free Trade Agreement, so the largest beneficiary of this move is Vietnam. Mexico has agreed to eliminate all import duties on rice except for milled rice on the day the TPP agreement enters into force.  Milled rice duties will decline from the current 20 percent by 2 percentage points each year for 10 years.  This reduction will begin after entry into force which is unlikely to occur until 2017 at the earliest.

"We faced an uphill battle in Mexico because it was evident that Mexico's government intended to liberalize rice trade with its TPP partners," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings.  "The major threat is in milled rice and USA Rice worked closely with the Mexican Rice Council to preserve the U.S. rice market in Mexico.""Thank you to USA Rice for the support which it has given to us," said Ricardo Mendoza, Executive Director, Mexican Rice Council in an email to USA Rice confirming Mexico's new duty structure. "We will be following closely the approval process [in the TPP countries]." 

Mexico is the number one export market for U.S. rice.  Paddy rice dominates U.S. exports and Mexico's imports.  However, the share of milled rice imports is on the rise, including from the United States, and Vietnam is likely to be a key competitor for the United States going forward.

Contact:  Michael Klein (703) 236-1458



In Arkansas and Mississippi, EQIP Aplenty 

Well EQIP-ed
ARLINGTON, VA -- USA Rice along with Ducks Unlimited and more than 40 other partners are celebrating their most recent milestone as part of the Sustaining the Future of Rice project and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).  The Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), one of two programs utilized by the project, collected a total of 334 applications when the sign-up period closed last month in Arkansas and Mississippi.The other conservation program used within the project is the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

The project includes implementation of conservation practices on working ricelands in the six primary rice-growing states using a $10 million investment from the NRCS and $6.8 million in private funds.

USA Rice Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Mosely said, "These numbers have far exceeded our expectations and we're confident that with a deep pool of applicants in both states we'll be able to fund projects on the most environmentally sensitive rice-growing acres for the most effective results possible."Applicants selected in this round of funding will be notified in early 2016 so they can begin implementing practices immediately.

The EQIP sign-up period for Louisiana and Missouri is open until Friday, November 20. Sign-up in California and Texas is anticipated to begin later this winter and CSP sign-ups in all six states will happen late in 2016.Farmers in Louisiana and Missouri interested in learning more about EQIP and submitting an application should consult their local county or parish NRCS offices prior to the submission deadline.


Contact:  Peter Bachmann (703) 236-1475

6th November,2014 Daily Exclusive ORYZ Rice -Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

India Average Wholesale Rice Prices Decline in October 2015 as Kharif Harvest Begins

Nov 05, 2015
India average wholesale rice prices declined in October 2015 after increasing for two consecutive months. The decline can be attributed to increasing supplies from the on-going kharif (June - December) rice crop harvest.
Average monthly wholesale rice prices in India declined to around Rs.2,588.89 per quintal in October 2015, down about 4% from around Rs.2, 696 per quintal in September 2015, and down about 7.5% from their year-ago levels of around Rs.2,801 per quintal.
In terms of USD per ton, wholesale rice prices in India stand at around $399 per ton (using current exchange rates) in October 2015, down about 2% from around $408 per ton (using historical exchange rates) in September 2015, and down about 13% from around $458 per ton (using historical exchange rates) in October 2014.     
Analysts are expecting India’s average prices to increase if India’s production is dampened by intensifying El Nino weather pattern, which is likely to cause drought conditions in Asia. India received about 16% below normal rains during the second half (August-September) of the monsoon season (June-September), according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
The government of India has forecasted the 2015-16 kharif (June - December) rice production at around 90.6 million tons, slightly down from around 90.86 million tons in 2014-15.

Global Rice Quotes
November 6th, 2015
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade          360-370           ↔
Vietnam 5% broken    370-380           ↔
India 5% broken         345-355           ↔
Pakistan 5% broken    315-325           ↔
Myanmar 5% broken   415-425           ↔
Cambodia 5% broken             415-425           ↔
U.S. 4% broken           490-510           ↔
Uruguay 5% broken    535-545           ↔
Argentina 5% broken 530-540           ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 345-355           ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 355-365           ↔
Pakistan 25% broken 285-295           ↔
Cambodia 25% broken           400-410           ↔
India 25% broken       325-335           ↔
U.S. 15% broken         500-510           ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd            350-360           ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd    405-415           ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd         340-350           ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken       590-610           ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken    545-555           ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken            NQ      ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%          785-795           ↔
Vietnam Jasmine         465-475           ↓
India basmati 2% broken        NQ      ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken   NQ      ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails             830-840           ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super      320-330           ↔
Vietnam 100% broken            330-340           ↔
Pakistan 100% broken stxd    275-285           ↔
Cambodia A1 Super   355-365           ↔
India 100% broken stxd         285-295           ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ      ↔
U.S. pet food 330-340           ↔
Brazil half grain          NQ      ↔


All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

Oryza CBOT Recap – Chicago Rough Rice Futures Finish the Day a Touch Higher as Rally Cools Following Yesterday’s Surge Higher

Nov 06, 2015

Chicago rough rice futures for Jan delivery settled 1 cent per cwt (about $0.22 per ton) higher at $12.455 per cwt (about $275 per ton). The other grains finished the day mostly lower; Soybeans closed about 2.3% lower at $8.6400 per bushel; wheat finished unchanged at $5.2625 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 1.6% lower at $3.7450 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded in a range Thursday, trying to hold the upward trend for the month so far, ahead of Friday's key jobs report. Ahead of Friday's report on October nonfarm payrolls, weekly jobless claims came in at 276,000, above expectations. Third-quarter productivity increased at a 1.6% annual rate, while labor costs rose 1.4%. U.S. layoffs fell 14% in October from the prior month, a 1.3% decrease year-over-year, according to Challenger.
China's Shanghai composite closed nearly 2% higher Thursday, bringing the index more than 20% above its recent low touched on Aug. 26. The composite remains more than 30% below its 52-week high hit in June. The Nikkei closed 1% higher. European stocks pared gains to close mixed, after the Bank of England kept rates unchanged. The German DAX outperformed. Investors will also eye more comments from Fed policymakers. Gold is trading about 0.1% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 1.3% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% higher about  1:00pm Chicago time.
Wednesday, there were 1,001 contracts traded, up from 812 contracts traded on Tuesday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Wednesday increased by 54 contracts to 12,174.

Indonesia to Import 1.5 Million Tons of Rice by March 2016, Says Bulog Official

Nov 05, 2015

Indonesia has decided to import 1.5 million tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand before March 2016 to replenish the stocks amid , Bloomberg quoted the Director of the state logistics agency Bulog.
The government reached an agreement with Vietnam to import one million tons of rice, including 750,000 tons of 15% broken rice and 250,000 tons of 5% broken rice, according to the official.
He also noted that the government would import another 500,000 tons of rice from Thailand. However, price and other technical issues need to be sorted out with the Thai government, he said.
The official also noted that the government is in talks with other countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar for government-to-government (G2G) import deals.
The Indonesian statistics agency has lowered its estimates for the country's 2015 paddy rice production to around 74.99 million tons, slightly below the estimated 75.55 million tons. It is understood that the current estimates do not account for the El Nino impact on the rice production. If the impact of El Nino is considered, it is likely that the production may be much below the estimates.
The Bulog needs to maintain about 2 million tons of rice at the end of the year. Currently the stocks stand at around 1.5 million tons.
The President has been keen on achieving self-sufficiency in rice production and avoid imports this year. However, the extending dry conditions and falling stocks are reportedly prompting the government to import rice. Analysts have been predicting Indonesia to import around 1.6 million tons of rice this year.

European Parliament to Reject EC's Trade Proposal on GMOs; EU Food and Feed Partners Hail the Decision

Nov 05, 2015

The European Parliament has decided to reject the European Commission's trade proposal to allow EU Member States to opt-out from authorised Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for food and feed uses.
The EU Food and Feed Chain partners, who are opposing the EC stance, have welcomed the decision. They have been calling on the EU Commission to withdraw its proposal since allowing Member States to impose national bans on EU-approved GMOs would contradict the core principles of the EU’s internal market.
They noted that the EC would be setting a dangerous precedent by allowing scientific findings on the safety of products be overruled by non-science-based restrictions to the free movement of goods. The dismantlement of the single market will destabilise the balance of the EU commodities market and would negatively impact the EU budget, they said.
They also noted that the EC's trade proposal would result in substantial commercial and legal risks for operators, condemning them to overly high costs and undue trade disruptions.   
The EU Food and Feed partners are urging the EC to provide a platform for encouraging the development of innovative products for the benefit of the consumers. They have called for a dedicated debate to address the relevant issues involving biotechnology and GMOs.

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap – Prices Hold Steady As Trade Remains Muted

Nov 06, 2015

The U.S. cash market was quiet and unchanged today as everyone in the industry seems to be prepared to wait until next year to begin trading again.
Analyst contend that the dynamics of the market remain the same; farmers need higher prices to break even while buyers insist that there will need to be great demand there to justify higher prices, however, if Iraq, Iran, or Venezuela come in and buy then farmers may get the price they are looking for.
In the meantime, the USDA reported that cumulative net export sales for the week that ended on October 29th, totaled 81,400 tons, a decrease of 28% from the previous week but 27% higher than the prior 4-week average.
Increases were reported for the following destinations including: 20,500 ton to Mexico, 18,600 tons to Haiti, and 16,900 tons to Colombia, 10,100 tons to unknown destinations, and 6,100 tons to Taiwan.
U.S. rice exporters shipped 45,500 tons, a decrease of 42% from the previous week and 39% lower than the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for the following destinations including: 26,500 tons to Mexico, 12,100 tons to Japan, 2,500 tons to Canada, 1,400 tons to South Korea, and 1,100 tons to Jordan.

FAO Global Rice Price Index Declines for Fourteenth Consecutive Month

Nov 05, 2015
The FAO All Rice Price Index declined to around 199 points in October 2015, down about 3% from around 206 points in September 2015 as most of the sub-indices declined during the month. The FAO index has been declining continuously since September 2014. It declined about 15.4% during the one-year period. The FAO index value in October 2015 is the lowest since June 2010.
According to the FAO, the Lower Quality Indica sub-index declined by about one point to around 175 points. The Aromatic sub-index declined about 8% to around 154 points and the Japonica sub-index declined by about 5% to around 252 points. However, the Higher Quality sub-index increased by about 2 points to around 179 points.
In January - October 2015, the FAO All Rice Price Index averaged 213 points, down about 9.8% from around 236 points during the same period last year. Sub-index for higher quality Indica rice prices declined about 11.5% y/y and sub-index for lower quality Indica rice prices declined about 8.8% y/y. Aromatic rice price sub-index declined about 32% y/y. However, sub-index for Japonica rice prices increased about 2.2% y/y.
According to the FAO, rice quotations in Thailand as well as in Vietnam increased during the month due to increased demand from Indonesia and the Philippines. However, quotations in India and Pakistan declined due to the arrival of the newly harvested crops.  Prices in the Americas were stable to lower, especially in Argentina and Uruguay, according to the FAO.
During September 2015, average rice export quotations of Thai 100% broken rice, Thai parboiled rice, Thai 5% rice, Thai 25% rice, Thai Fragrant rice and Thai A1 Super rice increased to around $376 per ton, $373 per ton, $368 per ton, $358 per ton, $984 per ton and $323 per ton respectively. Export prices of  Vietnam 25% broken rice increased to around $332 per ton.
Quotations of India 25% broken rice and Pakistan 25% broken rice declined to around $312 per ton and $286 per ton respectively. While U.S. 4% broken rice variety increased to around $497 per ton, U.S. California 4% rice declined to around $837 per ton. Uruguay 5% rice remained unchanged at around $510 per ton.